So, I'm looking for my engine, and I'm beginning to think a 351 is out of my budget for now...This leaves me to try and hit my 400HP goal with a 302.

Is this goal possible without stroking and spraying?

If so, what do you advise to build an engine thats at least semi-streetable and won't blow up on me after 200 miles. Wondering if anyone has any advice, because I'm wondering what I'm going to have to tear off of the motor and replace. I see plenty of 302 longblocks for sale that didn't come from Mustangs, so they don't have the good pistons, etc. etc., but how much of that would I have to swap out in the end, anyways? Would I be able to retain the stock connecting rods and pistons, or the accessories on the engine, or even the oil pan?

Post up heads/cam/intake/pistons/whatever recommendations, and if you've got any of the parts/engine for sale, I'd love to hear the prices. Looking for actual either the actual part I'd need, or some specs on what would be ideal that I can look around parts for.

 

trickflow package and a used S trim, 400+ to the wheels. this is on a stock buttom end of coarse.

 

I'm beginning to realize the horrible truth that I'm going to have to end up putting some F/I on this 5.0 to make my goal, aren't I? I was trying for all motor, but thats only because I didn't think I would have the money for a blower or turbo. Would it actually be cheaper in the end to slap one of those on the car?

 

with stock 302... your never going to make 400whp n/a... You will be doing good to make 1hp per cube... to the wheels. I have trickflow stuff all under my hood....

 

Hmm, so for my goal, I'm probably looking at a mandatory 351? I always thought itd be a shitload more expensive to go 351...Don't get me wrong, if its cheaper and easier and more reliable I'll slap something that ends in -charger on there in a heartbeat...I'm just not sure which one's better.

 

really all you need with a 351 is headers, oil-pan (go to auto zone and get a pan for a 87 Crown vic with the 351, it is like $80), distributor, and accessory brackets if you want to do it cheap just get the accessory brackets off of a crown vic the brackets work for both a 302 and a 351, and an intake everything else pretty much swaps over.

 

How cheap can I be and still make good power, though? A 351 with heads for a 302 will probably suck cock, won't it?

 

a 351 with 302 heads will problby make a lot of power down low but will be straining up high. my 351 has a set of mildly ported E7TE heads (these are the heads that came on it from the factory) i am not really trying to build a lot of horsepower up high with a stock bottom end and a 3800#+ car

 

On a budget, I'd find a low mileage shortblock... some gt40/p heads, trick flow stage 1 cam... carb/efi intake setup of your choice, and hit it with one fitty on spray... your good to go with about 400hp and even more torque.